Wanted: Paid Snow Observer

NWS Duluth Looking For Someone to Report Wintertime Precipitation in International Falls, MN

Did you know that the record of official snowfall observations in International Falls goes back to the early 1900s? NWS Duluth is looking for someone who is interested in helping continue that record as a paid snowfall observer this winter! This is a unique opportunity as there are only a handful of paid observers in the country, put in place to guarantee the continuity of the data record. This paid observer can be anyone in International Falls. Payment is a base pay of $115 a month, plus $4 for every observation submitted for the period from October 1 to April 30. A 6am morning observation is required every day, and then 6 hourly observations are needed if there is new snowfall. Contact NWS Duluth at nws.duluth@noaa.gov or the Observation Program Leader Steve Gohde at steve.gohde@noaa.gov if you are interested. 

Additional information: The NWS in Duluth will provide the observer with all needed equipment including a standard 8 inch rain gauge, measuring sticks, and snowboards. If there is no new snowfall, the only observation needed is one at 6am, to report zero precipitation/snowfall and current snow depth (the depth of snowpack currently on the ground). If there is new snow, a 6 hourly observation is needed, including precipitation (the melted down liquid water equivalent of any snow/sleet/freezing rain that has fallen), snowfall (new amount of snow that has fallen since the last observation), and snow depth. Once a week on Monday, observers can provide a snow water equivalent (SWE) report, which is a measurement of the amount of liquid water contained within the snowpack on the ground. Training will be provided from NWS Duluth. Each observation, including online entry, generally takes about 5-15 minutes. All observations are submitted via an online platform. If additional observations are needed into May, the observer will still be paid for individual observations, but no monthly base pay is available. Ideally, the observer has a relatively open, undisturbed area where observations can be taken and a rain gauge can be installed.

Not in Int. Falls but interested in measuring snow this winter? Become a citizen scientist and join the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS). Reports from CoCoRaHS come directly to NWS Duluth and are considered official data once they pass a QC check! Join today at cocorahs.org